Al-Amal Sports Club (Arabic: نادي الأمل الرياضي لكرة القدم) also known as Al-Amal Football Club is a Saudi women's football club from Taif established in 2018.

Al-Amal
Full nameAl-Amal Sports Club
Founded2018; 6 years ago (2018)
PresidentAmal Al-Toum
Head coachRadia Fertoul
LeagueSaudi Women's First Division League
2023–24Division 1, 3rd of 26

History

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Founded in 2018, Al-Amal was the first women's club established in Taif.

In 2020, as the team prepared for its participation in the inaugural community competition, trials and registration were announced to offer an opportunity for talent discovery, open to all from this point onward. This initiative comes after the team's prior participation in the Taif University League, where they proudly secured the silver medal.[1]

Al-Amal participated in the first Saudi Women's First Division League, placed in the third group. Despite earning four points from four matches, their performance did not qualify them for the final rounds, resulting in their elimination.[2] Ranked among the top 8 eligible teams in the first division, the team secured qualification for the inaugural SAFF Women's Cup. In this tournament, they faced the tough Saudi powerhouse Al Nassr, who defeated them convincingly with a score of 9–0.[3]

In the 2023–24 season, the team made their second appearance in the First Division League. In anticipation of new challenges, They appointed Algerian Coach Radia Fertoul to lead the team. Additionally, they secured the signings of five Algerian Internationals to strengthen their squad and enhance their chances of securing promotion.[4] Placed in the 5th group, the team secured the top spot by winning 7 out of 8 matches and scoring a total of 73 goals. This triumph earned them qualification for the final stages of the league. Remaining undefeated in the final round's group stage, they progressed to the semi-finals.[5] After a 0–3 defeat against Al-Ula, the team participated in the third-place playoff, emerging victorious and thereby securing their first promotion to the Premier League, to be the first club from Taif to do so.[6]

Players

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Current squad

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As of 13 March 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   ALG Asma Chaïb Adda
  KSA Hala Tawfiq
FW   ALG Imène Merrouche
FW   ALG Naïma Bouhenni
DF   ALG Noura Bouaita
  KSA Amani Al-Shehri
  KSA Malak Al-Zahrani
  KSA Fatima Abdullah
  KSA Roulla Khabrani
  KSA Sara A
No. Pos. Nation Player
  KSA Taif Al-Sharif
FW   ALG Ferial Daoui
  KSA Remas Al-Thubeit
  KSA Raghad Al-Otaibi
  KSA Alanoud Al-Yamani
  KSA Ferial Al-Faqiyah
  KSA Raneem Khabrani
  KSA Retaj Al-Thubeit
  KSA Rawan Khalid
  KSA Salma A

Current staff

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As of 13 March 2024
Position Name
Head coach   Radia Fertoul
Assistant coach   Hakima Boussetta
Goalkeeper coach   Benaouda Benkherfia

References

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  1. ^ "الطائف: بدء التسجيل بـ«فريق الأمل» النسائي لكرة القدم" [Taif: Registration begins for the women's football team "Al-Amal.]. okaz.com.sa (in Arabic). 30 September 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  2. ^ "دوري الدرجة الأولى يوسع رقعة الكرة النسائية بالسعودية" [The First Division League expands the landscape of women's football in Saudi Arabia.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  3. ^ "52 هدف في 4 مباريات بـ كأس الاتحاد السعودي للسيدات" [52 goals in 4 matches in the Saudi Women's Cup]. gulf365.net (in Arabic). 24 November 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  4. ^ "5 محترفات جزائريات يدعمن نادي الأمل النسائي بالطائف" [Five Algerian professionals support the women's club Al-Amal in Taif.]. alyaum.com (in Arabic). 28 October 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  5. ^ ""الأمل النسائي" بالطائف يتأهل لنصف نهائي دوري الدرجة الأولى لقدم السيدات" [Al-Amal Women's" in Taif qualifies for the semi-finals of the Women's First Division Football League.]. sabq.org (in Arabic). 8 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  6. ^ "الأمل يتأهل إلى الدوري السعودي الممتاز للسيدات" [Al-Amal qualifies for the Saudi Women’s Premier League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
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